Blue Notes 165

March for the Ocean to Celebrate Summer

Summer starts June 21 during the Northern Hemisphere’s Summer Solstice, when our rotational axis tilt towards the sun and guarantees the longest day of the year. But we also know summer really begins with Memorial Day and runs through Labor Day, usually with trips to an ocean beach or other warming body of water. Going to the beach remains the number one outdoor activity for all Americans and with good cause. Spending time in the sand and by the sea with friends and family is like living the good old days only in the here and now. While going to the beach is a grand tradition, marching for the ocean this World Oceans Day weekend is something new and critically important as our endangered and linked ocean and climate systems are approaching ecological collapse. To quote one of our march speakers, “Let’s remember that without Blue there is no Green.”

2018 Hurricane Season: Not Again

The number of Atlantic hurricanes by year from 1950 to 2016. (The Weather Company)

Given the consequences of continued offshore drilling for fossil fuels it’s not surprising the 2018 hurricane season is predicted to be as active as 2017’s, when we saw three major hurricanes slam the U.S: Harvey, Irma and Maria.

What in the past were thought of as natural disasters are increasingly turning into unnatural catastrophes due to our energy and coastal development choices.

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Get Drastic on Plastic

We are partnering with Flowater to eliminate plastic water bottle waste. (Flowater)

BYOB – Bring your own bottle. Another major focus in D.C. and our more than 60 sister marches around the world will be getting rid of single-use plastic and other forms of ocean pollution, with a stronger focus on corporate accountability for this epidemic of waste. We are going to try and set an example by having a Plastic Free March and Rally with the help of several responsible companies. Bring your canteen or non-plastic water bottle and FloWater (a post-plastic company based out of Denver Colorado) will have chilled refill stations for the thousands of ocean lovers there.

Coalition of Coalitions

Along with our more than 160 partner groups to date this first ever March for the Ocean would not be possible without sponsors and other financial supporters. Here’s a partial list of who’s contributed to help us mobilize.

Please consider making a donation to March for the Ocean so we can all continue to prepare for the work ahead. Donate at marchfortheocean.org

One way we can all contribute is to buy March T-shirts in various styles and shades of blue.

Be Bold. Wear Blue. (March for the Ocean)

#WearBlue4theOcean

Speaking of blue, ‘Wear Blue for the Ocean’ is a global theme the day of the march. Here’s the Wear Blue, add a facebook frame, post to social media and challenge your friends too! Learn more by exploring our M4O Toolkit!

While Jackson Browne won’t be able to attend M4O we have at least one guest musician who’ll help us get together and smile on each other as we prepare to march that morning after gathering by the pod of giant whales at the NW corner of the Washington Monument Grounds at 17th and Constitution Avenue – For the full schedule and meeting information go to the M4O website

Armada on the Anacostia. (March for the Ocean)

Even before the March we’ll be welcoming our intrepid coastal paddler Margo Pellegrino who took off from the Atlantic City NJ’s ‘Hands Across the Sand’ anti-drilling protest on June 19 on her 18-day paddle to the March. After that we’ll be celebrating an ‘Ocean Under the Stars’ film fest from 8:30 – 10:30 PM at our Stage area with support from the International Ocean Film Festival and D.C. Environmental Film Festival. Lots of fun on a warm June night.

Come by water. On the morning of the March, Saturday June 9th, we’ll be launching a March for the Ocean Armada on the Anacostia. Margo will be taking off from the Anacostia Community Boathouse at 8am and anyone with a kayak, SUP (our friends at Aqua Vida have offered to provide some free to paddle), a skiff, boat, workboat, dragon boat (we’re expecting several), Zodiac, etc. and who loves the water and the Ocean that is the source of all water are welcome to join in for a two hour cruise downriver to the Wharf. Feel free to check it out from the riverbank as well.

We also have lots of M4O information on transportation, local groups organizing buses or planning to train down to D.C. Our M4O Hotel with steep discounts is the State Plaza – call them at 202 – 861-8200 and tell them you’re coming for the March for the Ocean.

Limebike – the dock-free bike and electric scooter company – is also offering two free rides that day to help you get to and from the march from anywhere in the city in a healthy, mostly fossil free way. Just use the discount #M4O2018DC

We also have stickers & fliers that you can also download from the website and print out (NEED THEM ON SITE). Or contact your local chapter or affiliate of partner groups such as the Sierra Club, Surfrider, Environment America, Greenpeace, Sea Shepherd, Inland Ocean Coalition, Clean Ocean Action, etc.

Rally for Change

After the 1.7 mile march past the White House and Lafayette Park, join M4O and “Her Deepness” Dr. Sylvia Earle, Philippe and Ashlan Cousteau, Danni Washington, Paul Watson, Carl Safina, Ralph Nader, Admiral Ann Thomas (USN Ret.), Heirs to Our Oceans, OMG, Hannah4Change, the Earth Conservation Corps and others. Don’t forget good walking shoes (the March around the White House is 1.7 miles) light blue clothing or costumes including shade hats and canteens as this is a plastic and waste free march.

If you’re not in DC join one of the growing number of other marches for the ocean around the world from the underwater reef of Key Largo to the island of Saipan, Chicago Illinois to Jakarta Indonesia, Boulder to Cozumel, San Francisco to Rio. Check out the website map to see what’s happening near you. Also it’s still not to late to start your own M4O action. And don’t forget to Wear Blue for the Ocean and get your Blue images out on social media!

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About Blue Frontier Campaign

Blue frontier has become a national leader in providing resources and opportunities to bring the voice of citizens who care about the health of our oceans into decision-making processes that will positively impact our public seas.